In 1975, James Piccolo arrived on campus at Stanwood High School equipped with a teaching certificate, a clipboard, and an uncanny capacity for bringing out the best in those around him. Nearly five decades later, Piccolo’s profound influence on youth sports in Washington state and beyond continues to cultivate inspiration and innovation within the ranks of athletic directors, coaches, and student-athletes alike.

While his impact still resonates throughout Washington, it originated in Snohomish County. From 1988 to 2006, Piccolo reinvented the role of Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Stanwood High School, maintaining a firm hold on the reins of a program that grew steadily from 2A to 4A competition during his tenure. The list of Piccolo’s accomplishments and responsibilities at Stanwood — from initiating team-oriented programs like the Advanced Coaches Workshop to developing comprehensive goals for girls’ athletics — could practically fill the appendix of a history textbook. Beyond school halls, the former NIAAA and WSSAAA board member led leadership training programs, sharing his knowledge through countless volunteer presentations for educators nationwide.

By the end of his career, Piccolo — whose responsibilities ranged from Stanwood High School student council advisor to WIAA District 1 Director — had won the Athletic Director of the Year Award at both the state (1999) and national (2000) levels, more than enough to earn him an induction into the WSSAAA Hall of Fame. Although the quantity and magnitude of his professional accolades are staggering, Piccolo never lost sight of the main motivation behind all of his work: the students.

In the words of his many pupils and peers — an infinite array of administrators, teachers, coaches, and students — the driving question behind all of Piccolo’s decisions was and has always been, “What’s best for the kids?” In fact, Piccolo always made sure he remembered the name, face, and family of every student he met. His consistency and dedication to student-athletes in every school hallway, alongside his eagerness to share valuable leadership strategies, have inspired the work of countless high-ranking administrators, past, present, and future. From Stanwood to Spokane, the man they call “Pic” will forever be remembered as an upstanding leader and community icon.